Headrest and invalid-raising mechanism for bedsteads and cots



HEADREST AND INVALID RAISING MECHANISM FOR BEDSTEADS AND cows L. R BERRYAug 11, 1931.

Filed May 20. 1929 Invenio r. Lewialflflery.

)Veforaey Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED TATES Parent forties L EWIs 1a.BEER-Y, or PORTLAND, MAINE HEADREST AND INVALID-RAISING 'MECHANISM FORBEDQTEADS AND COTS Application filed. May 20,

This invention relates, in general terms, to apparatus, adaptable foruse on bedsteads and cots to raise'for lowenby mechanical me'ansthe-head and upper-body portion of a person lying] thereon. I y I Theobj'ectof the present invention is to provideimprovements in a device, apatent Ion which was granted me May 14th, 1929, numbered 1,713,164,relating to a head-rest and invalid-raising mechanism for bedsteads andcots.

The present device, while embodying sub stantially the same principleswith respect .to the actual raising and lowering of the head-rest, has,incorporated in its structure, certain novel and essential featureswhich areof particular advantage in'its operation.

Specifically,the,objects sought in this in- 'vention are:

1. To provide a flexible material, preferably sheet fabric, for thetransverse element in the head-rest, to support the head and the upperbody portions of the invalid.

2. To provide means to automatically tighten the lower portion of thefabric sheet in a progressive manner as the headwhen the head-rest isbeing lowered.

The character of the invention may best be understood by reference tothe description found in the following specification, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which is disclosed anillustrative and preferred embodiment thereof, and in which Fig. 1 is afragmentary perspective view of the frame work of a cot with myapparatus installed thereonthe spring and mattress of the cot not beingshown, and

Figs. 2 and 3 are side elevations of the tightening elementthe formershowing the head-rest in flat-wise and the latter in elevated position.

Similar reference characters are employed to identify like parts in allviews of the drawing.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the side rail of a cot orbedstead, in this instance shown as an angle iron but which may be inthe form of a pipe or wooden side 1929. j Serial no. 364,486.

briefly, consists in the compound gearing G actuated by the hand cranklever 6 to operate the quadrants 7 which are connected at their upperends to the swinging side bars 8.

Referring to the drawings it will be observedthat, in my present device,a radical departure from the construction shown in my former invention,in two particulars at least, has been made. The slats 1 5 whichconnected the two side bars 13 (characters in drawing of my Patent No.1,713,16l)

have been eliminated and as a substitute I now. employ a fabric sheet20, each lateral edge of which is folded and sewed to form a loop withinwhich operates a bar 21. rest 1s elevated, and conversely, to loosen 1tThe" ends of this bar, 21, are provided brace the adjacent side bar 8.

At the fourth corner of the fabric sheet my automatic tighteningmechanism is located, one ofthese ordinarily being sufii-- cient when itforms equipment for a narrow cot. When the head-rest is supplied forfull width bedsteads it may be advisable to use two of the tightenersoneat each lower corner of the sheet.

" The sheet tightening apparatus includes two rotatively mounted cleats24,. one being "secured on the side-frame 8 and the other on the sidebar 8, by screws or studs 25, 25,

' respectively.

Each cleat has outstanding ears 26 through whichpasses'a pin 27. Thestrap 28 is "looped around the pin 27 in the cleat at tached to the sideframe 3, extends toward the side bar 8 in a double thickness and isreeved around the pin in the cleat on the bar 8, thence it passesinwardly of the headrest to the bar 21 within the slot in which it issecured. An adjustable buckle23 is provided for this strap as also forthe three other straps 23. Non-extensible straps 29 operable over thecross member 30 prevent sagging of the sheet when the head-rest is inelevated position; and to resist lateral strain on the side rails 1,when the sheet is tightened, an angle bar 31 is provided, it beingsecured to the rail blocks 2.

In Fig. 2 the head-rest, in which are included the two side bars 8, isshown in its lowermost position on the cot.

In this position of the head-rest the lower buckles 23, or those nearestthe pivotal point of the side bars with the side frames, are adjusted sothat the sheet fabric 20 hangs somewhat looselyand capable ofaccommodating itself or conforming to any changes in the shape of thespring incident to the weight of the patient on the mattress.

When the side bars 8 are raised, however, as seen in Fig. 3, the uppercleat swings away from the lower one, and that portion of the strap 28which lies between the upper cleat and the sheet fabric is shortened.This has the efi'ect of tightening the sheetthe tightness depending ontwo conditions, the initial adjustment of the buckle 23 and the centerto center distances of the cleats 24. By providing other holes for thereception of the bolts 25, or by otherwise arranging for verticaladjustability of the cleats, a variation in the range of the tighteningdevice may be procured.

Without doubt the most appealing characteristic of my improved head-restis its 7 capacity to give support to the patient when needed and toentirely withdraw this support when no need appears. While lying on thecot, either on his back or side, the

patient gets the full benefit of the resiliency of the mattressspring-just as though no head-rest was beneath him. As he is beingelevated to an inclined position he senses a gradual but gentletightening of the support applied more particularly to the small of hisback, or that portion of his body immediately above his hips, and thisbrings him to a posture both comfortable and healthful.

It is to be further noted that the tightening and loosening of thefabric supporting sheet 20 is effected automaticallyit beingaccomplished incidentally to and synchronously with the raising andlowering of the head-rest.

It is obvious that the apparatus just described is susceptible ofmodifications in structure without departing from, the meanng and intentof the invention. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that I do notrestrict or limit myself to the exact mechanical details as herein setforth and illustrated in the drawings, as it is possible to carry outthe invention in other ways which will be in conformity to and withinthe scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the character described, adapted to be attached to theside rails of a bedstead, the combination of a side frame secured toeach of said rails, a side bar pivotally connected to each of said sideframes, a fabric sheet disposed interjacent said side bars, extensiblestraps securing said fabric sheet to said side bars at its two uppercorners and one lower corner, a cleat pivotally mounted, on one of saidside frames, a cleat pivotally mounted on the adjacent one of said sidebars said cleats being spaced from the pivotal connection of said sidebar with said side frame, toward the head of the bed, a strap, one endof which is fixed in said first mentioned cleat and slidably secured insaid second mentioned cleat, the other end of said strap extendinginwardly and secured to said fabric sheet, and means to oscillate saidside bars whereby on the upward and downward movement of said side barsthe portion of said last mentioned strap lying between the said side barand the said fabric sheet may be shortened and lengthened,respectively.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LEWIS R. BERRY,

